(East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow)
(SNP):...In recent weeks the Government announced the kickstart
scheme, and I want to ask the Minister whether young people with
learning disabilities, or disabilities, could
perhaps be further supported through that scheme, or through an
internship or apprenticeship. The excellent Speaker’s internship
scheme for people with disabilities was developed in 2016, and
perhaps there is more that hon. Members could do to support the
training, inclusion, skilling and work of those who have Down’s
syndrome.
I am delighted to chair the new all-party group for inclusive
entrepreneurship, which was established to remove barriers and
raise the profile of entrepreneurs with protected
characteristics, particularly disabilities. We must also change
the narrative more broadly from disability to ability, and from
being solely about employees to people having the potential to
become employers. Will the Minister consult colleagues in
government, and find out whether there are particular supports
and schemes for which those with disabilities can perhaps be
given funding or additional support for adaptations, so that
they can start their own businesses with their skills, talents
and abilities?
A study by Mencap found that 62% of adults with
learning disabilities in the UK want to work,
although only 6% have a paid job. We need to address that, and
we must all play our role in our constituencies, and by working
across the House and across parties, to ensure an inclusive
employment programme for everyone across the UK. In this time
of covid a recession could occur, and many jobs are already at
risk. We would not wish one of the outcomes of covid to be a
further tragic impact on those with disabilities...
